Jenny lives in Minnesota. She is comparing a Washington state municipal bond that pays 5% to similar corporate bonds. She has a federal tax rate of 20% and a State rate of 4%. What yield will the corporate bond have to pay to be equivalent to the municipal bond?

Answers:

A. 4%

B. 5%

C. 6.25%

D. 6.58%

Correct Answer: C. 6.25%

Rationale: Because Jenny lives in Minnesota, the interest on her municipal bond will be tax-exempt at the federal level, but not at the state level. To calculate the tax-equivalent yield of a municipal bond, simply take the rate of the municipal bond and divide it by 1 minus the tax rate. So the tax equivalent yield = .05/(1-.20) = .0625 or 6.25%.